U.S. #767a

1935 3¢ Federal Building

The imperforate souvenir sheet of the Federal Building from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair was reissued in 1935.  The original issue was released in conjunction with the 1933 American Philatelic Convention.  Two of the main features on the Chicago Exposition grounds were meant to provide a contrast by which to measure the city’s progress.  A restoration of Fort Dearborn, the original site of Chicago, which had twice been destroyed, stood in sight of the towering Federal Building, which dominated the grounds.  These concrete symbols of Chicago’s progress were natural choices as stamp subjects.

Farley's Follies

The infamous "Farley’s Follies" controversy began in 1933 when Postmaster General James A. Farley removed several stamp sheets from the printing presses before they were gummed or perforated.  He autographed these sheets (which were not available to the public) and gave them to colleagues and family, creating precious philatelic rarities.  Stamp collectors were outraged when they discovered what had happened.  Finally, the Post Office came up with a solution – the reissue in sheet form of all the stamps issued since March 4, 1933, in ungummed condition, all but the first two imperforate and in sufficient numbers to satisfy public demand.